Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 660

660. A Little Seasoning Makes Deokjil Delicious (1)

Imperial Year 3 (1451).

“Hoo~.”

Wan, letting out a long sigh, finished signing the documents, placed the report in front of him, and handed it to the eunuch standing beside him.

“Let’s call it a day.”

“Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Having finished processing the approval documents from the research institute and Area 51, Wan got up from his seat and lightly stretched his waist.

“Sitting for too long makes my back stiff…”

After a light stretch—the culprit was, of course, the incense, which started from the incense and spread to everyone at some point—Wan left the office.

“I’m going to the deputy director’s office. Bring the approval documents with you.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The eunuchs, administrators, and researchers passing by in the hallway quickly paid their respects to Wan.

“We greet Your Highness.”

“Shh! Quietly. Wouldn’t that be a disturbance to those who are working?”

“Ah, yes. Yes.”

Wan, giving a light warning to those who raised their voices in greeting, headed to Jeong In-ji’s office.

“His Highness has arrived.”

Jeong In-ji, having been notified of Wan’s visit, immediately got up from his seat and rushed to the door.

“Welcome!”

Wan, entering the office with Jeong In-ji’s welcome, ordered the eunuch.

“Give the approval documents to the deputy director.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Jeong In-ji, receiving the approval documents from the eunuch, examined the thickly stacked documents and unknowingly let out a small sigh.

“Hoo~.”

At Jeong In-ji’s sigh, Wan smiled slightly and spoke.

“You have a lot of work today too, don’t you?”

“Ah! I apologize. I’ve shown a sorry state.”

“No. Isn’t the research institute and Area 51 a place where work always creates more work?”

Jeong In-ji nodded at Wan’s words.

“That’s true.”

Before they knew it, Wan and Jeong In-ji continued their conversation with black bean tea in front of them, brought by a servant.

“I didn’t know why His Majesty told me to take charge of this place before, but I think I know a little now.”

“Is that so? What reason do you think it is?”

Jeong In-ji smiled as if looking at his own child and responded. The clumsy appearance he had when he first came was gone, and now he showed the bearing of a seasoned administrator.

At Jeong In-ji’s question, Wan replied with a smile.

“It’s the perfect place to learn and become familiar with imperial studies. Isn’t the greatest cause, ‘to develop and enrich the empire’s scholarship,’ something that applies not only to the research institute and Area 51? Doesn’t the entire state affairs follow this cause?”

Jeong In-ji nodded at Wan’s words.

“That is true. You are absolutely right.”

At Jeong In-ji’s response, Wan put more strength into his voice.

“To carefully examine the various proposals that come out to realize such a cause, to discard what is not right, and to determine the priority of the proposals—isn’t this what an emperor should do? And, the most important thing: ‘To create the maximum harvest within the given budget’ and sometimes ‘to fight to get more budget’ is the most important thing in imperial studies, isn’t it? So, His Majesty seems to have passed this position on to me.”

“Indeed.”

While agreeing with Wan’s words, Jeong In-ji muttered something else inside.

‘For someone who’s supposed to pass it on, he looked like he really didn’t want to pass it on.’

“But, when I, as the director, look at the results coming out of the research institute and Area 51, I honestly don’t want to pass it on to my children later.”

At Wan’s following words, Jeong In-ji muttered inwardly.

‘Indeed, the blood doesn’t lie.’

As time passed in such a warm atmosphere, Wan got up from his seat.

“Then, I should go and solve the last task of the day.”

“The last task…”

After hesitating for a moment and recalling his memory, Jeong In-ji looked at Wan in shock.

“Your Highness! Don’t tell me!”

“That’s probably what you’re thinking.”

“It will never be approved!”

“Still, it’s a necessary task, so I will ask for approval. If necessary, I will even appeal directly to the Emperor.”

“Oh, Your Highness!”

Looking at Jeong In-ji’s pale face, Wan continued with a confident expression.

“Surely, it won’t go as far as a direct appeal, will it? His Majesty knows the importance of this plan well.”

Watching Wan leave with such determination, Jeong In-ji put his hand on his forehead.

“Hoo~. That bearing is exactly like his uncle, Duke Jinpyeong. One is obsessed with iron horses, and the other is obsessed with the sky…. Hoo~.”

Jeong In-ji, letting out a long sigh, chose one of the cups filled with herbal medicine from the tea table on one side and drank it down.

“Kkeueu~.”

Jeong In-ji, putting a small candy in his mouth to mask the bitter taste of the herbal medicine, grumbled while looking at the closed door.

“I can’t quit taking medicine because of that family! I’m going to get cursed at again right away! My damn life where I take medicine because of curses!”

On the tea table next to Jeong In-ji’s desk, there were always various kinds of herbal medicines for headaches, stomachaches, and abdominal pain caused by anger.

* * *

“The Crown Prince has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

As soon as Hyang’s permission was given, Wan, who entered Gangnyeongjeon [the Emperor’s main residence], immediately paid his respects.

“Yes. You’ve worked hard today too. What’s the matter?”

At Hyang’s question, Wan took out the thick document he had put in his arms and submitted it to Hyang.

“I am asking for approval.”

“Isn’t this something that can be submitted to the cabinet meeting tomorrow?”

Hiding his doubts, Hyang received the document and his expression hardened.

Because the title itself was unusual.

“Self-Propelled Flying Balloon (自力飛行飛球)?”

“That’s right! The balloon is indeed a useful thing, but it has a fatal flaw. It cannot move by determining its own direction…”

“Stop.”

Hyang, stopping Wan’s lengthy explanation, carefully examined the contents of the document.

“Hoo~.”

After examining the contents of the document for a long time without saying anything, Hyang put down the document with a sigh, and Wan looked at Hyang with a very nervous face.

Hyang, staring at the document with his arms crossed, finally opened his mouth.

“Impossible.”

“However, Your Majesty! This is good not only for military purposes but also for civilians…”

“The purpose is good. But! The problem is that there is almost no possibility of realization.”

Hyang, cutting off Wan’s words firmly, explained the reason why it was impossible.

-First of all, the size of the air sac (氣囊) [balloon’s envelope] that holds the heat is a problem. According to the plan you submitted, the size of the air sac is a whopping 70 yards (about 210m). The size of the air sac of the balloon currently used for military purposes is about 7 yards (about 21m), and even that requires a lot of highly skilled soldiers to operate properly.

-The manpower required is not the only problem. The materials used to make the air sac are silk and Korean paper [Hanji]. Both are materials that are weak to fire. If you blow heat into an air sac with a size of 70 yards to properly fill it with heat, a fire will definitely occur due to overheating.

-The fact that a steam engine was used as a power source for self-propelled flight seems to be the biggest reason for increasing the size. This is the biggest problem. The heavy bulk of the steam engine is also a problem, but the raw material, coal, is an even bigger problem. As coal, a heavy stone, is consumed, the weight of the balloon continues to change, and the explanation of how to adjust this is insufficient.

-Also, the method of disposing of the ash from the steam engine is also a problem. If ash full of fire and heat is scattered in the sky, it can cause a major disaster. Even if it is stored inside the balloon, the risk of fire is still high.

“…Therefore, it is impossible.”

At Hyang’s words, Wan immediately began to refute.

-To solve the problem of overheating, the inside of the air sac will be divided into three large sections and heat will be supplied independently.

-Also, if the air sac is divided into sections like this, even if the air sac is damaged by any chance, the misfortune of falling immediately can be avoided.

-In the case of steam engines, they use the latest technology and are smaller than before. This means that you don’t have to load too much fuel, coal.

-Also, the problem of weight change due to coal consumption can be adjusted by adding and subtracting heat from the air sac.

-The ash that comes out can be stored inside. The problem of remaining fire and heat can be solved by using water.

-Also, accidents can be avoided if only well-trained people operate it.

Hyang immediately countered Wan’s rebuttal.

“The last one is the biggest problem. No matter how well-trained people are, they can still make mistakes. Instead of thinking ‘disasters can be avoided by well-trained people,’ you should think ‘humans always make mistakes’ to avoid disasters as much as possible.”

Having said that, Hyang reaffirmed his conclusion.

“I’ll say it again, I can’t approve it with this much. Think about it some more.”

“These are the latest technologies right now.”

“Look at the Book of Challenges [a vast collection of knowledge and wisdom] again.”

“Are you talking about the Book of Challenges? Is there an answer there?”

At Wan’s expression of disbelief, Hyang shouted.

“You son of a b*tch! Do I have to spoon-feed you everything! Go and search! There’s definitely an answer!”

“The Book of Challenges is too vast in volume…”

“You son of a b*tch, get out!”

Hyang, having chased Wan out, muttered to himself without realizing it.

“Seriously… who did that guy take after…”

At that moment, the sound of the typewriter that had been ringing loudly in Gangnyeongjeon stopped. Hyang asked, looking at the historians and writers who stopped recording and looked at him.

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing!”

The historians pounded on the typewriter furiously.

-…So, the Emperor pointed out the problems of the plan one by one and ordered a re-examination.

The historian says.

Like father, like son.

Hyang, having chased Wan out like that, looked at the calendar for a moment and asked Sangseon [a high-ranking eunuch].

“The regular ship to Shinji [an island] hasn’t left yet, has it?”

“Yes. It will set sail in two days.”

“I know.”

Hyang, hearing Sangseon’s answer, took out a blank sheet of paper and began to write a letter to Sejong [Hyang’s father, the former Emperor].

It was gorgeous with all sorts of sentences written in accordance with etiquette, but the content was simple.

-Please lend me Jang Yeong-sil [a famous inventor and scientist].

Hyang, having finished writing the letter, put it in an envelope and sealed it tightly before handing it to Sangseon.

“Send it to Shinji with the regular ship. Also, add that it should be delivered to Sanghwang [Sejong’s title as retired Emperor] as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

* * *

That night, Hyang, sitting alone in Gangnyeongjeon, chuckled and muttered.

“When you’re wandering around without an answer, it’s best to add a little seasoning. Watching the ensuing millstone is also a treat.”

Hyang, muttering meaningful words, placed a blank sheet of paper on the drawing board placed on one side of Gangnyeongjeon and fixed it.

“Before Jang Yeong-sil comes, shall we start with a light warm-up?”

Hyang, holding a stylus in his hand, paused for a moment.

“Wait… will there be time to warm up?”

After thinking for a moment, Hyang came to a cool conclusion.

“What’s the reason for leaving Grand Scholar Hwang-hee and the ministers? I have to use them well at times like this.”

That night, all the great and small officials below Hwang-hee were pressed down by a ghost [worked to the bone].

And, for the first time in a long time, tonic ingredients ran out in all the herbal medicine shops in Seoul.

* * *

Fifteen days later, on the Han River.

On the sandy beach where the Han River water was rippling, Hyang and Wan, as well as the great and small officials, researchers, and artisans of Area 51, were all gathered. And, behind them, Seoul residents were gathered to see the new spectacle.

“What I want to show you is that the steam engine is not the only means to move on its own.”

“Yes.”

As Wan bowed his head at Hyang’s words, Hyang gave an order.

“Launch the balloon.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Hyang’s command, the balloon rose into the sky. The Seoul residents who were watching the scene all tilted their heads.

“Why is there a ferry attached?”

Below the air sac, there was a long thing that looked like a ferry, not the square basket that they usually saw.

“Send the signal.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Hyang’s command, a rider holding a flag waved a signal. A soldier who saw the signal from the ferry attached to the balloon shouted to his colleagues behind him.

“It’s the signal! Pedal!”

“Eitcha!”

At the same time as the short shout, the soldiers began to turn the pedals. And, as the gears and chains connected to the pedals turned, the windmills on the left and right sides of the ferry began to turn.

As the windmills turned faster and faster, the balloon floating in the sky slowly began to move forward. As the soldier at the very back moved the rudder with a wide wooden plate attached, the balloon slowly moved in a circle.

Hyang, having confirmed the scene, turned to look at Wan.

“Did you see it?”

“I saw it.”

“Then what to do?”

“I will search the Book of Challenges to the best of my ability.”